Jeremiah Masoli injured again as Ottawa Redblacks lose to Hamilton Tiger-Cats

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Author of the article:

Tim Baines  •  Postmedia

Published Jul 08, 2023  •  2 minute read

Tiger-Cats defensive end Mason Bennett (90) and Redblacks offensive lineman Zack Pelehos (52) check on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli after he was hurt on a play in the first half of Saturday’s game in Hamilton.. Photo by Peter Power /THE CANADIAN PRESS Article content

Tiger-Cats 21, Redblacks 13

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Jeremiah Masoli’s return to the football field, a year after a season-ending leg fracture, ended in what looked like more heartbreak.

Also, of concern, the Ottawa Redblacks fell to 1-3 with a 21-13 loss to the Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.

In his first Canadian Football League regular-season game since July 8, 2022, when he was hurt by a cheapshot hit by the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Garrett Marino, Masoli, who played in Hamilton from 2013 to 2021, went down on his own as he tried to plant his left leg midway through the second quarter. He had to be helped off the field and was replaced by Dustin Crum on the next offensive series. Masoli was on the sidelines later with crutches and a boot on his left leg; his last injury was to the right leg.

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Before leaving, he completed six of 10 passes for 37 yards.

The Ticats chewed up six minutes on their opening drive before settling for a 13-yard field goal. Marc Liegghio then made it 6-0 with a 50-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Masoli’s first game pass in a year was a nine-yard completion to Siaosi Mariner.

Another Masoli pass intended for Justin Hardy was tipped and intercepted by Hamilton’s Chris Edwards, who returned the football 38 yards to Ottawa’s 29. The Ticats challenged an incomplete pass ruling at the back of the end-zone to Richie Sindani, but the CFL Command Centre decided the ruling on the field stood, so Hamilton had to settle for making it 9-0 with a 20-yard field goal.

A 36-yard Lewis Ward field goal for Ottawa made the score 9-3.

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Crum then ran 15 yards into the end zone, untouched, for a touchdown with 57 seconds left in the first half. The convert gave Ottawa a 10-9 lead.

The Redblacks made it 13-9 on a 20-yard field goal by Ward 4:23 into the third quarter.

A terrific diving interception by Ty Cranston gave Ottawa the ball on its 39-yard line, but Hamilton got the ball back when Simoni Lawrence intercepted a ball that was intended for Jaelon Acklin and was tipped. A 64-yard Matt Shiltz touchdown connection to Tyreik McAllister made it 15-9, but the convert attempt was wide.

Crum fumbled after being hit with big pressure by Hamilton’s defence. Ticats defensive lineman Ted Laurent recovered on Ottawa’s 46.

However, Hamilton gave the ball back when Kiondre Smith’s fumble was knocked out of bounds by Ottawa’s Brandin Dandridge.

A 34-yard field goal made it 18-13 for the Ticats 4:14 into the fourth quarter.

With 9:31 left, Richard Leonard intercepted a Crum pass at Hamilton’s 47.

A 25-yard Hamilton field goal with 3:11 left made it 21-13.

Ottawa drove into scoring position as time ticked away, but Crum was tackled at the one-yard line to end the game.

Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is brought down by Tiger-Cats defensive back Richard Leonard early in the first half. Before he was hurt, Masoli completed six passes for 37 yards in his first game action in a year. Photo by Peter Power /THE CANADIAN PRESS Article content Share this article in your social network Comments

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